A landmark legislation came into effect in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February&nbsp;1 which will fasten up the process of marriage for non-Muslim expatriates or non-Muslims living in the Middle East country. This legislation overhaul in the UAE's judicial system holds extreme significance as the old laws required non-Muslim couples to marry and divorce by following the country's Sharia law.&nbsp;

However, under the new Personal Status Law for non-Muslims, family matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, will, child custody and paternity will be covered without following the Sharia law.&nbsp;Expatriates earlier had to go through the UAE's Sharia law to get married or divorce, even if it differed from the laws in their own home country.&nbsp;

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The reforms were first approved by the late UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 27 November 2021. Out of the seven emirates, only Abu Dhabi adopted the new reforms in November last year but now the law will be extended to all the seven emirates including Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah.

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Under the new law, which Abu Dhabi has already implemented, more than 6,000 couples from 127 nations tied the knot. According to Khaleej Times, the majority of those who tied the knot were Filipinos. As many as 2,300 Filipino couples, 830 Indian couples and many Americans, Russians, Lebanese, Nigerians, and Europeans have tied the knot under the new civil law.&nbsp;

Sharing the experience under the new legislation, Immaculate Twebaze, a&nbsp;Ugandan,&nbsp;told Khaleej Times, “The process was quick, easy and affordable. For real, we had remarkable and beautiful moments which will never fade away from our minds.”&nbsp;

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“The hospitality shown right from the main entrance, the blissfulness, smiles from all court staff, make you feel that marriage is a blessing from God and it's a right path to be taken.”

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A landmark legislation came into effect in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 1 which will fasten up the process of marriage for non-Muslim expatriates or non-Muslims living in the Middle East country.

A landmark legislation came into effect in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 1 which will fasten up the process of marriage for non-Muslim expatriates or non-Muslims living in the Middle East country. This legislation overhaul in the UAE's judicial system holds extreme significance as the old laws required non-Muslim couples to marry and divorce by following the country's Sharia law. However, under the new Personal Status Law for non-Muslims, family matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance, will, child custody and paternity will be covered without following the Sharia law. Expatriates earlier had to go through the UAE's Sharia law to get married or divorce, even if it differed from the laws in their own home country. Also Read | Democrat Ilhan Omar ousted from House Foreign Affairs Committee for her anti-Semitic comments The reforms were first approved by the late UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 27 November 2021. Out of the seven emirates, only Abu Dhabi adopted the new reforms in November last year but now the law will be extended to all the seven emirates including Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. Also Read | EU Parliament waives immunity from prosecution of two lawmakers in bribery scam probe Under the new law, which Abu Dhabi has already implemented, more than 6,000 couples from 127 nations tied the knot. According to Khaleej Times, the majority of those who tied the knot were Filipinos. As many as 2,300 Filipino couples, 830 Indian couples and many Americans, Russians, Lebanese, Nigerians, and Europeans have tied the knot under the new civil law. Sharing the experience under the new legislation, Immaculate Twebaze, a Ugandan, told Khaleej Times, “The process was quick, easy and affordable. For real, we had remarkable and beautiful moments which will never fade away from our minds.” Watch | Will 'Operation Miracle' save the ocean's rarest marine mammal? “The hospitality shown right from the main entrance, the blissfulness, smiles from all court staff, make you feel that marriage is a blessing from God and it's a right path to be taken.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

More non-Muslim expats tie knot in UAE since adoption of new law on civil marriage

According to reports, the Sri Lankan government has made it mandatory for citizens to obtain "security clearance" if a person intends to marry a foreigner.

The guideline has reportedly been issued after&nbsp;instructions from Sri Lanka's defence ministry. Earlier, a Sri Lankan citizen had to show a passport, confirmation of civil status and a birth certificate, however, under the new rule a person will now also have to declare their health status.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tea-for-oil-sri-lanka-plans-to-use-tea-to-repay-iran-for-a-251-million-oil-debt-439229">Also Read:&nbsp;'Tea-for-oil': Sri Lanka plans to use tea to repay Iran for a $251 million oil debt</a>

A person will also have to show proof that there is no criminal offence committed in the last six months.&nbsp;

Reports say a "security clearance report" will be required from the defence ministry&nbsp;and it will be handed over to the district registrar who will then proceed to register the marriage.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Foreigners need "security clearance" before marrying locals in Sri Lanka

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Reports claim the move to register the marriage after security clearance has been done due to "national security"&nbsp;reasons.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-hikes-fuel-prices-again-amid-depleting-foreign-reserves-438858">Also Read:&nbsp;Sri Lanka hikes fuel prices again amid depleting foreign reserves</a>

The new rule will come into effect from January 1, 2022. The move has however been criticised by the country's opposition.

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Hope this is the last time Sri Lankans get ridiculed for the year 2021. How about Secuirity clearance for foreign nationals to hold cabinet ministerial portfolios and to be First Lady ? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onecountry100laws?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#onecountry100laws</a> <a href="https://t.co/sB7QVelOzB">https://t.co/sB7QVelOzB</a>
— Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (@ShanakiyanR) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShanakiyanR/status/1475324551672205313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Lawmaker Shanakiyan&nbsp;Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam in a tweet said: "How about security clearance for foreign nationals to hold cabinet ministerial portfolios and to be First Lady?"

Reports claim the government put the new rule in place to prevent foreigners duping locals into marriage and to stop them&nbsp;from marrying innocent citizens involved in the drug racket.

(With inputs from Agencies)

According to reports, the Sri Lankan government has made it mandatory for citizens to obtain "security clearance" if a person intends to marry a foreigner. The guideline has reportedly been issued after instructions from Sri Lanka's defence ministry.

According to reports, the Sri Lankan government has made it mandatory for citizens to obtain "security clearance" if a person intends to marry a foreigner. The guideline has reportedly been issued after instructions from Sri Lanka's defence ministry. Earlier, a Sri Lankan citizen had to show a passport, confirmation of civil status and a birth certificate, however, under the new rule a person will now also have to declare their health status. Also Read: 'Tea-for-oil': Sri Lanka plans to use tea to repay Iran for a $251 million oil debt A person will also have to show proof that there is no criminal offence committed in the last six months. Reports say a "security clearance report" will be required from the defence ministry and it will be handed over to the district registrar who will then proceed to register the marriage. Watch | Gravitas: Foreigners need "security clearance" before marrying locals in Sri Lanka Reports claim the move to register the marriage after security clearance has been done due to "national security" reasons. Also Read: Sri Lanka hikes fuel prices again amid depleting foreign reserves The new rule will come into effect from January 1, 2022. The move has however been criticised by the country's opposition. Hope this is the last time Sri Lankans get ridiculed for the year 2021. How about Secuirity clearance for foreign nationals to hold cabinet ministerial portfolios and to be First Lady ? #onecountry100laws https://t.co/sB7QVelOzB — Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam (@ShanakiyanR) December 27, 2021 × Lawmaker Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam in a tweet said: "How about security clearance for foreign nationals to hold cabinet ministerial portfolios and to be First Lady?" Reports claim the government put the new rule in place to prevent foreigners duping locals into marriage and to stop them from marrying innocent citizens involved in the drug racket. (With inputs from Agencies)

Foreigners marrying Lankan nationals need clearance from defence ministry; opposition slams move

Indonesia's parliament has revised the country's marriage law to lift the minimum age at which women can marry by three years to 19, a move welcomed by campaigners as a step towards curbing child marriage in the world's biggest Muslim majority country.

All factions in parliament agreed on the revision at a plenary session on Monday, according to a statement on its website.

Indonesia is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of child brides, according to campaign group Girls Not Brides.

One in four girls in Indonesia is married before they turn 18, according to a 2016 report by Indonesia's Statistics Agency and the United Nations children's fund UNICEF.

"The society still encourages girls to get married in their teenage years, otherwise they will be considered spinsters," said Masruchah of the National Commission on Violence Against Women.

Masruchah, who uses one name, said the commission would have preferred 21 as the minimum age for marriage for men and women when both are considered mature in terms of reproduction and economic stability.

Indonesia previously allowed girls of 16 to get married or younger with no minimum age if their parents requested it.

Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled in December that it was discriminatory to have a lower marriage age for women than for men, who could legally marry at 19.

Child marriage in Indonesia has been blamed for causing maternal and infant deaths, as well as encouraging child labour, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise said in a statement.

"Finally, after 45 years (of the existing marriage law). This is a present for Indonesian children," she said.

Indonesia's parliament has revised the country's marriage law to lift the minimum age at which women can marry by three years to 19, a move welcomed by campaigners as a step towards curbing child marriage in the world's biggest Muslim majority country.

Indonesia's parliament has revised the country's marriage law to lift the minimum age at which women can marry by three years to 19, a move welcomed by campaigners as a step towards curbing child marriage in the world's biggest Muslim majority country. All factions in parliament agreed on the revision at a plenary session on Monday, according to a statement on its website. Indonesia is among the 10 countries in the world with the highest number of child brides, according to campaign group Girls Not Brides. One in four girls in Indonesia is married before they turn 18, according to a 2016 report by Indonesia's Statistics Agency and the United Nations children's fund UNICEF. "The society still encourages girls to get married in their teenage years, otherwise they will be considered spinsters," said Masruchah of the National Commission on Violence Against Women. Masruchah, who uses one name, said the commission would have preferred 21 as the minimum age for marriage for men and women when both are considered mature in terms of reproduction and economic stability. Indonesia previously allowed girls of 16 to get married or younger with no minimum age if their parents requested it. Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled in December that it was discriminatory to have a lower marriage age for women than for men, who could legally marry at 19. Child marriage in Indonesia has been blamed for causing maternal and infant deaths, as well as encouraging child labour, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise said in a statement. "Finally, after 45 years (of the existing marriage law). This is a present for Indonesian children," she said.

Indonesia raises the minimum age for brides to end child marriage

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